Taylor decided to remain focused on the amateur side of boxing until last November when she turned professional, at the age of 30. It has taken Taylor a mere 11 months to earn a world title shot, having had just 6 pro fights. Taylor won all 6 of those fights and ended 4 of them by knockout. Typically it would take way more than 6 fights for someone to earn a title shot, but because of Taylor’s significant amateur background, an exception was made.

If Taylor is successful in her quest for world gold, it will bring up the question where her achievements land her in the history of Irish sports. It would be hard to argue against her being one of Ireland’s greatest ever athletes. Taylor is only the second Irish boxing gold medalist ever following in the footsteps of Michael Carruth. Nobody has even come close to Taylor’s achievements at the world amateur championships for Ireland. Ireland has won 6 amateur world championships total, 5 of which came from the hands of Taylor.

That kind of success puts Taylor up there with Irish sporting legends such as Sonia O’Sullivan, Brian O’Driscoll and Robbie Keane. If Taylor is victorious in her title fight, it will be very telling how the media and the public respond. Katie Taylor is already a huge role model to young Irish women and Irish athletes as a whole. A win on October 28th would further cement Taylor’s already immaculate legacy in Irish sporting history.